YORK Wasps coach Leo Epifania was today turning his attentions to New Year's Day following the controversy of yesterday's late postponement.

Hosts Hunslet Hawks wanted the Boxing Day basement clash to go ahead, but Wasps were happy referee Ben Thaler called it off, the decision being made just half an hour before kick-off.

Epifania said the pitch was too dangerous and could have caused injuries ahead of Tuesday's home clash with Swinton Lions.

"We were really disappointed because we had had a great build-up, the boys looked in good condition and we looked to be in a great position to play the game," he told the Evening Press.

"At the end of the day, though, if we'd played and got a win but next week had three players needing knee re-constructions, it would not have been worth it."

Wasps had been confident of kick-starting their Northern Ford Premiership campaign with a victory at Hunslet, who were just one place above York in the table.

But as soon as the match was postponed, Epifania began looking towards Tuesday's home match against Swinton, also without a win, for their first points.

He added: "We will have a few training sessions now before New Year's Day.

"We have just got to re-focus on to the next game. Yesterday is over and done with, and we have to start to look towards the game against Swinton."

Epifania explained that on the Wasps' arrival at South Leeds Stadium, it was agreed that the pitch looked to be okay.

However, after a more detailed check half an hour later, they felt it was unsafe.

"We checked it again and it seemed to be getting harder so we asked the referee who had another look at it," he said.

"That was 40 minutes before kick-off and it was only going to get harder. Every one of our players was unhappy with the pitch and every one of the coaching staff was unhappy.

"But at the end of the day it was the referee who said he was not prepared to referee on that ground.

"Hunslet wanted to go ahead with it but it was the referee who made the final decision," he added.

The Wasps players were in the middle of their pre-match warm-up and a number of spectators were already in the ground when the official called it off.

"It was frosting over more. We had some players slipping, and studs weren't going in," said Epifania.

"We wanted to play as badly as them, but the most important thing is the players' safety and playing on a pitch as hard as rock is not safe."

Updated: 11:58 Thursday, December 27, 2001